Skip to main content

This site is best viewed with a modern browser. You appear to be using an old version of Internet Explorer.

A personal message to OUH staff from our Chief Executive Officer and Chief People Officer

04/06/2020
This article is more than three years old.

Dr Bruno Holthof (Chief Executive Officer) and Terry Roberts (Chief People Officer) have sent a personal message to all OUH staff today (Thursday 4 June 2020).

Dear colleagues

Throughout our response to COVID-19 at OUH, our strength has been in our common purpose and togetherness.

It has been exemplified in the hashtag we have used when sharing stories about you, our extraordinary staff, and the patients who depend on us - #OneTeamOneOUH.

That togetherness and that sense of One Team is rooted in the diversity of our workforce. That diversity is one of the strengths of the NHS in general and OUH specifically.

Now, more than ever, it is important for us to pull together as we see the shocking scale of racism which is still sadly prevalent in society today.

And as we discover more about the disproportionate impact which COVID-19 is having on people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities - including our staff.

We recognise that our BAME staff colleagues may be feeling a heightened sense of anxiety, vulnerability and indeed anger at this time.

And that is why today we are writing to you on behalf of the Trust Board to reaffirm our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion here at OUH.

We are taking action to address inequalities including, importantly, ensuring that inclusive recruitment is a key part of the training which we provide to those managers who recruit new staff to join our team at OUH.

We also want to ensure that BAME staff have a stronger voice in the organisation – if you would like to get involved in our Staff Network please contact Tommy Snipe (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager).

We will not tolerate racism or harassment of any kind at OUH - and so our Respect and Dignity at Work Procedure is in place to ensure a zero tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours.

We know that as a Trust there is much more we need to do - and the Trust Board is committed to driving this work forward with all staff at OUH.

If you feel the need for additional support at this time, please do remember that our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is available for all staff. The service is confidential, free, accessible by phone or online, and can help support you with a wide range of work, family and personal issues, and also individual counselling sessions.

We have also created a comprehensive online Guide to Health and Wellness so you can access all wellbeing support from one central point - you can find it on the Trust website.

Please do take care of yourselves and each other.

Bruno
Dr Bruno Holthof
Chief Executive Officer

Terry
Terry Roberts
Chief People Officer

Pictured: Terry Roberts (left): Dr Bruno Holthof (right) - composite image